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Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
Published on: October 9, 2012
Physicochemical Characterization of Phthalocyanine-Functionalized Quantum Dots by Capillary Electrophoresis Coupled
Gonzalo Ramírez-García1,2,3,4,5, Fanny d'Orlyé1,2,3,4, Tebello Nyokong5
1Chimie ParisTech, PSL Research University, Unité de Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé UTCBS, Paris, France.
Abstract:
Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) complemented with Taylor Dispersion Analysis-CE (TDA-CE) was developed to physicochemically characterize phthalocyanine-capped core/shell/shell quantum dots (QDs) at various pH and ionic strengths. An LED-induced fluorescence detector was used to specifically detect the QDs. The electropherograms and taylorgrams allowed calculating the phthalocyanine-QDs (Pc-QDs) ζ-potential and size, respectively, and determining the experimental conditions for colloidal stability. This methodology allowed evidencing either a colloidal stability or an aggregation state according to the background electrolytes nature. The calculated ζ-potential values of Pc-QDs decreased when ionic strength increased, being well correlated with the aggregation of the nanoconjugates at elevated salt concentrations. For the same reason, the hydrodynamic diameter of Pc-QDs increased with increasing background electrolyte ionic strength. The use of electrokinetic methodologies has provided insights into the colloidal stability of the photosensitizer-functionalized QDs in physiologically relevant solutions and, thereby, its usefulness for improving their design and applications for photodynamic therapy.
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